Pipelayers Salary
The median pay for a pipelayers in Louisiana is $44,340/year ($21.32/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $50,802 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,191/month, about 39.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Louisiana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $44K get you in Louisiana?
About pipelayers
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Pipelayers pay in Louisiana tracks closely to the national median, $44K locally vs. $49K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,191/month, which is 39.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level pipelayers (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track pipelayers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pipelayer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 39.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for pipelayers in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pipelayers typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,112/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 56% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is pipelayer a high-paying job in Louisiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $44K locally vs. $49K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for pipelayers?
Louisiana pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pipelayers make in Louisiana?
The median is $44,340 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,200, and experienced pipelayers can clear $60,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,027/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 39.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a pipelayers salary go in Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median pipelayers salary is worth about $50,802 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do pipelayers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.